Manual pick-up device

Abstract

A manual pick-up device includes a housing having a handle at one end, a fixed upper jaw at an opposite end, and a longitudinally extending shank extending therebetween. A movable jaw member is pivotally supported within the housing and extends outwardly through a housing opening to enable cooperation with the fixed upper jaw. A spring-biased actuating trigger is connected to the movable lower jaw by a connection element such that manual actuation of the trigger toward the handle urges the closing of the movable jaw against the fixed upper jaw, so as to enable an operator to grasp an object between the upper and lower jaws of the device.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A manual pick-up device, comprising: 
       a housing longitudinally bisected into corresponding first and second housing segments each defining at least a proximally located handle portion and a distally located stationary jaw portion separated by a longitudinally extending shank portion;  
       an attachment arrangement for attachment of said housing segments to each other, said attachment arrangement comprises a plurality of resilient fastening members projecting laterally from one of said first and second housing segments and adapted for engagement with corresponding receiving elements in the other one of said first and second housing segments;  
       a movable jaw portion pivotably mounted within said housing; and  
       an actuating trigger associated with said handle portion,  
       whereby manual actuation of said trigger toward said handle causes pivotal movement of said movable jaw portion, thereby urging said movable jaw portion toward the stationary jaw portion of said housing facilitating grasping of an object situated therebetween.  
     
     
       2. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said movable jaw portion is pivotably supported upon a nub extending outwardly from an interior surface of said housing in a direction transverse to said longitudinally extending shank portion. 
     
     
       3. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion of said housing has a forwardly extending foot portion, at least one interior guide wall extending longitudinally along an interior surface of said foot portion, said actuating trigger is formed as an inverted generally L-shaped member having upper segment and lower segment which is transverse to said upper segment, said lower segment including at least one projection extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of movement of said trigger. 
     
     
       4. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one projection extending from the lower segment of said trigger slidably engages said foot portion of the interior guide wall. 
     
     
       5. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary biasing arrangement for pivotally urging said movable jaw portion away from said stationary jaw portion. 
     
     
       6. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said auxiliary biasing means is a spring member having one end thereof connected to the movable jaw portion and another end connected to the interior of the housing at said stationary jaw portion. 
     
     
       7. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises an integral hooked portion projecting outwardly from said housing at the stationary jaw portion. 
     
     
       8. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said stationary and movable jaw portions each have serrated pincers formed at distal ends thereof, said pincers are adapted to engage an object situated therebetween. 
     
     
       9. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said movable jaw portion has a distal end pivotally mounted within an interior space of said housing and a proximal end extending forwardly therefrom through a housing opening defined by said first and second housing segments; and 
       said actuating trigger having upper and lower segments, said upper segment being slidably captivated within an interior housing space defined by said first and second housing segments in a manner limiting movement of said actuating trigger to a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinally extending shank portion.  
     
     
       10. A manual pick-up device, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a connection element connecting an upper portion of said actuating trigger to the distal end of said movable jaw portion. 
     
     
       11. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said connection element further comprises a substantially rigid rod member. 
     
     
       12. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said connection element further comprises a non-rigid member. 
     
     
       13. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said actuating trigger is formed having a lower segment and an upper segment captivated within an interior space of said housing so as to facilitate movement of said trigger along said longitudinally extending shank portion, said longitudinally extending shank portion being formed by at least top and bottom wall portions spaced from each other, guide arrangements projecting inwardly toward each other from said top and bottom wall portions and adapted for guiding of movement of said upper segment of the actuating trigger between said wall portions. 
     
     
       14. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a biasing arrangement for biasing said actuating trigger. 
     
     
       15. A manual pick-up device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said biasing arrangement for biasing said actuating trigger comprises a spring member.